Matt Yuskewich installed as OSCPA’s 100th Chair of the Board

J. Matthew Yuskewich, CPA, PFS, was installed as the 100th chief elected officer of The Ohio Society of CPAs before a record-setting 600 members at the Members Summit & Annual Meeting, June 30, in Columbus.

OSCPA members overwhelmingly gave “two thumbs up” to the program. Tim Krall, CPA, a sole practitioner in Cleveland, said, “I come to the Members Summit for the networking and I’m interested in OSCPA’s activities. The speakers this year have been the best of any Members Summit.”

Cynthia L. Doll, CPA, a supervisor with Wendy’s International, selected the Members Summit because it stood out among other CPE offerings. “I chose this event because it offers a wide variety of topics,” Doll said. “The session on what CPAs need to know about IFRS convergence was great. There are a lot of changes coming for accountants and many don’t know about it.”

Members raved about the quality of speakers and topics at this year’s Members Summit, with just a sample of the comments including:

• Always entertaining and informative.
• Never enjoyed a tax seminar more.
• Best tax update I have ever attended!
• He was more than excellent; the best speaker I have heard in some time.
• Outstanding commentary on the economic position.
• Not only was it informational - it was fun too!
• Very informative and useful presentation.
• Outstanding speaker! Time flew by and it was very useful information.

2009-2010 Executive Board

Yuskewich, an owner of the Winterset CPA Group in Columbus, encouraged all members to get involved with The Ohio Society, noting he began his activities as a member of the OSCPA Tax Committee in 1983. “Thanks to all of you – without you there would be no Ohio Society of CPAs,” he said.

Yuskewich promised to work to enhance the CPA brand, focusing on the hallmarks of the profession: accountability, integrity, reliability and independence. “We need to be certain our voice is heard and our expertise as CPAs is utilized,” Yuskewich stressed.

Following is the full slate of Executive Board officers for the 2009 – 2010 year:

• J. Matthew Yuskewich, CPA, PFS, chair of the board, Winterset CPA Group, Columbus
• Peter A. Margaritis, CPA, chair-elect, college instructor, discussion leader and course developer, Columbus
• Jay J. Moeller, CPA, past chair of the board, Battelle & Battelle LLP, Dayton
• Brian D. Marita, CPA, vice chair-finance, Ciuni & Panichi, Cleveland
• Kristine G. Devine, CPA, Deloitte & Touche, LLP, Columbus
• Walter J. Eckert, CPA, CVA, Russell, Eckert, Mealer & Kalb CPAs, Inc., Columbus
• Jennifer Fallows, CPA, Moskal Gross Orchosky Inc., Cleveland
• Christopher D. Flaig, CPA, MBA, Joseph Decosimo & Co., LLC, Cincinnati
• James P. Gero, CPA, Hobe & Lucas CPAs, Independence
• Michael A. Petrecca, CPA, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Columbus
• Annette J. Rader, CPA, Radel Smith & Associates, Bowling Green
• Daniel M. Spilman, CPA, ABV, CFF, Spilman Hills & Heidebrink Ltd., Toledo
• Craig M. Steinhoff, CPA, Hill Barth & King LLC, Boardman
• Mark A. Van Benschoten, CPA, Rea & Associates Inc., Dublin
• Elizabeth A. Frey, CPA, American Greetings Corporation, Cleveland
• Gerald P. Weinstein, CPA, John Carroll University, Cleveland
• Thomas M. Zaino, CPA, JD, McDonald Hopkins, Columbus

2009 OSCPA Award winners

During the Members Summit, the Society recognized several members for their outstanding service and contributions to the profession. Thomas D. Hazelbaker, CPA, a shareholder with Clark Schaefer Hackett & Co., in Middletown received the Gold Medal for Meritorious Service to the Accounting Profession – the highest honor OSCPA bestows on members. Hazelbaker thanked many during his acceptance speech, among them he thanked his mentors who have made such a dramatic difference in his career. “I’ve never had an assigned mentor,” Hazelbaker said. “Search out your own mentors!”

OSCPA recognized Jerry L. Esselstein, CPA, for his outstanding volunteer service to the society with the 2009 Outstanding Member Volunteer Award. Jerry has served in many leadership roles over the years, most recently as chair of the 2008 Centennial Campaign to benefit the Ohio CPA Foundation. Jerry led a team of volunteers that raised gifts and pledges exceeding the initial goal of $1.5 million.

The 2009 recipient of the Ohio Accounting Educator Award, which is co-sponsored by OSCPA and the Ohio region of the American Accounting Association, is Gerald P. Weinstein, CPA. Weinstein is the chairman of the accounting department at John Carroll University’s Boler School of Business where he has been teaching for 21 years. 

David A. Brockman, CPA, received the OSCPA 2009 Public Service Award. A tireless volunteer, Brockman is always committed to making organizations better through service to his profession and community. A partner with the Akron firm of Brockman, Coats Gedelian & Co., Brockman believes that when you volunteer, you should leave the organization in a better position than before you served.

For complete details and a photo recap on the Members Summit & Annual Meeting, look for the highlights in the July/August issue of Catalyst.

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